The Weekend Report

Oz the Great and Powerful continued to live up to its moniker with an estimated $42.2 million second weekend that handily led session titles. The frame saw two new releases open tepidly behind it. Slender thread drama The Call bowed to $17.3 million and the sleight-of-hand The Incredible Burt Wonderstone was less than magic with $10.3 million.

In the niches, the rap on Mindless Behavior: All Around was $373,000 from 117 venues. On the Indian circuit Paradesi was hardly heavenly with a $51,100 tally at 22 locations.

In exclusives, there was an explosive debut for the antics of Spring Breakers that generated $261,000 from three screens. Also impressive was the two-screen bow of Ghibli Studios’ Miyazaki clan’s From Up on Poppy Hill of $53,500 and an okay start of $42,300 for period youth drama Ginger & Rosa from three playdates.

Weekend revenues were just shy of $110 million, which translated into a 24% decline from seven days back. Box office was a virtual carbon copy from 2012 when the launch of 21 Jump Street grossed $36.3 million with Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax in the bridesmaid’s spot with $22.8 million.

Neither of the new entries was expected to be competitive with Oz with both titles tracking to generate in the mid-to-high teens. Of the two, Burt Wonderstone was given a slight edge but that proved to be yet another instance of poor market research.

The ramped-up dramatics of an emergency phone center provided a significant draw for The Call. … and given its distaff appeal that should have set off a bell for pundits. Studio exit polling identified an opening weekend audience 67% composed of women with 53% of ticket holders aged 30-years and older.

Meanwhile there was a lack of magic for The Incredible Burt Wonderstone despite an aggressive marketing campaign. It skewed 56% male with a crowd that was 56% aged 25-years and upward.

With some schools already on recess, the holiday break kicks up big time next weekend and industry hopes are obviously high with tentpole titles dotted throughout the schedule for several weeks.